“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” – oh wait! It’s Christmas already?!

The holiday season is in full swing. Have you been waiting for this time of year all year long and now that it’s finally here, you feel like it passes by so ridiculously fast?? I hear you… For you to make the most of this year’s remaining Christmas time, I want to give you some super-ultra-last-minute ideas to realize easily while spending time with your family and friends during the upcoming Christmas days.

1. Last-minute late-night baking session: Nothing screams more Christmas than baking Christmas cookies while singing along to “Rocking around the Christmas tree…”. Make sure to wear a comfy outfit and of course a Santa hat. As you will most certainly have much to do during the day preparing for Christmas Eve with family and friends, the best time for the baking session is at night, when all is calm. Put on your PJs and get ready for some delicious cookies waiting to be baked with lots of holiday love. My favorites are vanilla crescents (Vanillekipferl), nut wedges, thumbprint cookies with jelly and of course star-shaped cinnamon cookies.

2. Christmas movies: This one you can easily check off your Christmas-to-do-list with your early morning coffee or cocoa when everybody gathers in the living room and enjoys a relaxed start to Christmas Day. Some of my must-sees include: Home Alone, Home Alone 2 – Lost in New York, The Grinch, The Holiday, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Actually Love, Jingle All The Way, Deck The Halls, Christmas with the Cranks and Love the Coopers.

3. Christmas songs: As self-proclaimed Christmas Queen, I began listening to Christmas songs right after Thanksgiving. Here’s a playlist of my all time favorite Christmas songs (currently on replay as I am typing these very words): “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” by Bruce Springsteen, “Let It Snow” by Dean Martin, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting, “Last Christmas” by Wham! (must must must), Jingle Bell Rock by T. Graham Brown, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, “All I want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” by Dean Martin, “Christmas Don’t Be Late” by the Chipmunks, “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé, “The Christmas Song” by The King Cole Trio and “Deck the Hall” by the London Chamber Orchestra.

4. Christmas novels: I love to read Christmas novels in December. I am sorry that I did not get to publish this post earlier in order for you to be able to get those books I list here – wait a second, it’s 2016 – you can still download them (although personally I prefer actual books, I am oldschool like that) 🙂 For the past few years, I have been reading anything by Sarah Morgan, “Sleighbells in the Snow” and “Maybe This Christmas” are really beautiful stories to get you into the holiday mood. Currently I am reading “Christmas Ever After”, also by Sarah Morgan. If you have any recommendations for my next year’s Christmas reading list, I’d be grateful for you to share with me!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas time with your loved ones – enjoy every second of it!

Merry Christmas dears!

-your tiny woman in a giant world